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by Heather Roth Johson (Author)
Wiggles, Giggles, and Pokes is the essential guide for pastors, church leaders, volunteers, and families who want to cultivate a worshiping community where children truly belong. Drawing on interviews with over 200 ministers, educators, parents, and volunteers, Rev. Heather Roth Johnson weaves research, theology, personal stories, and practical tools into a comprehensive and hope-filled vision for including children in worship.
With warmth, wisdom, and humor, Johnson explores why children's presence in the sanctuary matters-not as future members of the church, but as full participants right now. Through Scripture, neuroscience, liturgical insight, and real congregational case studies, she equips leaders to welcome every child: energetic, neurodiverse, curious, wiggly, reverent, noisy, observant, and wonderfully made.
Inside this book, you'll discover:
- Why belonging precedes believing-and how worship forms faith at every age.
- The biblical and theological foundations for welcoming kids into worship.
- Research on how worship shapes children's brains, identity, and discipleship.
- Practical tools: worship boxes, sensory spaces, liturgist roles for children, and more.
- How to help congregations embrace adaptive change with grace and courage.
- Strategies for cross-generational discipleship and reducing "information overload."
- A "One-Story" approach that brings the whole church around a single biblical narrative each week.
- Real stories of failure, growth, hope, and surprising moments of Spirit-filled joy.
For churches of all sizes and traditions, this book offers a pastoral, practical roadmap for creating worship experiences where God's people-all ages, all abilities-are welcomed, loved, discipled, and sent.
Whether you're a children's minister, lead pastor, volunteer, parent, or someone who loves the church, this book will inspire you to imagine worship as a place where kids aren't just watching-they're leading, learning, and helping the whole congregation grow in faith.
Because kids wiggle, giggle, poke... and worship.
And the church is better for it.
